Of the four siblings Khalid Gaffar was the only one pursuing a career in academics. His elder brother has joined army long time ago while the other two are in J&K police. His friends and neighbors say Khalid did not believe a bullet had hit him when he was shot. “He came to me and removed his shirt. He said he had got a pellet somewhere. He did not know he had a bullet wound bleeding profusely,” said one of his neighbors who wished anonymity. A cloudburst killed Khalid’s mother in 2015. Besides father and three brothers he is survived by a young sister.
Neighbors, friends and relatives know Khalid as a jolly, chatty and a compassionate young man who would volunteer for any work on weddings and funerals. A large number of mourners including women and children on Thursday attended the funeral prayers of the slain youth. The wailing women showered candies and dry fruit on Khalid’s coffin, a symbolic mournful gesture to convey that the man was killed before he would be bridegroom.
Amid fierce pro-freedom sloganeering, Khalid was laid to rest in his native village Trehgam at 10 a.m.
Clashes erupted soon after Khalid was laid to rest as forces fired tear gas shells were used to disperse the protesters. Several youth received minor injuries during the clashes in the areas.
Strict restrictions were imposed in Kupwara to foil the protests. All the roads leading to Kupwara and Trehgam were sealed by the security forces. Restrictions under 144 were imposed in main town Kupwara, Trehgam and its adjoining areas.
Khalid primarily a shopkeeper but he was pursuing his B-Ed as he wanted to become a teacher
His relatives said, while Khalid’s elder brother is serving army for several years now, and the other two brothers are in police department. Among two police officials one has recently received order copy and has not joined duty so far, relatives of slain said.
One of his neighbors said Khalid did not know he had received a bullet and was shouting at him to remove the pellet he thought he was hit by.
Anger against Khalid’s killing is mounting in Kupwara especially Trehgam, the native town of JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat who was hanged in Tihar Jail on 9 February 1984.
Internet service has already been snapped in the district and additional security measures are being undertaken. District administration has suspended the class work in all the schools and colleges in the district. Meanwhile, to mourn the local youth’s killing a complete shutdown was observed in the district. All the business establishments and shops remain closed while as public transport remains off the roads.